August 09, 2011

Should Whole Foods promote Ramadan?

Did Whole Foods, the supermarket that carries a generic line of products called 365, pull a 180 on Ramadan? The supermarket insists that it's still 100 percent behind its Muslim customers.

Rumors are swirling around cyberspace that Whole Foods, the first major supermarket chain to launch a marketing campaign during the holy month of Ramadan, has caved to pressure from bloggers already irked by the store’s sale of Canaan Fair Trade olive oil, which they believe funds anti-Israel terrorist activity.

On Tuesday, Gawker reported that Whole Foods had instructed stores across the U.S. to discontinue its promotion of healthy, halal cuisine when Muslim break their daylong fasts. The promotion was in collaboration with Saffron Road frozen entrees and Yvonne Maffei, the Des Plaines blogger who runs MyHalalKitchen.com.

Maffei was the subject of a recent Tribune story about a new generation of Muslims preferring to break their fasts with local, free-range and organic foods.

“Whole Foods Market is NOT cancelling our current halal promotion, which is centered around the timeframe of Ramadan,” Libba Letton, a spokeswoman for the supermarket, said in a statement. She explained that one regional office out of a dozen across the U.S. had instructed its area stores to promote halal cuisine without mentioning Ramadan “after some online negative comments.”

“We’re excited to be offering high quality halal products for our shoppers and we stand behind them and our promotion of them, just like we do with other seasonal and holiday products,” Letton said.

Maffei said she agreed to help with the Saffron Road promotion because halal-certified convenience food is a relatively new innovation for the grocer’s freezer and marks signficant progress for the American Muslim community. Guests often show up unannounced during Ramadan and frozen entrees can save the day, she said.

Meat in Saffron Road meals also isn't just ritually slaughtered to meet Muslim halal standards. It’s humanely raised, vegetarian-fed and antibiotic-free, all of which is equally important, Maffei said.
Maffei doesn’t undersatnd why customers would take issue with a supermarket promoting Ramadan the same way it promotes Easter and Passover.
“It’s not highlighting or dismissing,” she said. “It’s including.”

Posted at 05:13:30 PM

Comments

"Maffei doesn’t undersatnd why customers would take issue with a supermarket promoting Ramadan the same way it promotes Easter and Passover."

Because like blacks 50 years ago, today American Muslims are not regarded as equals!

Companies do give out samples. They are looking to put their products in potential consumers' hands. They wouldn't do it if it didn't work one of the place that always worked is "123 Samples" search online

For no sensible person would this register as a concern, let alone a source of outrage. But then, most of what counts for news in the 'blogosphere' isn't geared toward sensible people. Even posing this as a question is pandering to the bigots, xenophobes and racists who froth at the mouth upon encountering anything that isn't their own.

These folks need to chill out, have a glass of whatever -- Whole Foods organic wine? -- and get over their prejudices.

I don't see how any reasonable person could have an issue with Whole Foods' marketing to Muslims. If there are concerns about the sourcing of a product, then they shold be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Manya,
Saffron Road's entrees actually sound intriguing, for those of us that buy kosher by choice due to its preparation practices, but aren't observant Jews.

The problem that many in the Israel advocacy community have with Whole Foods isn't that they carry "Muslim food from Palestine". it's that the Canaan Fair Trade brand they carry, which otherwise is laudable in promoting economic activity in the Palestinian territories, has a political agenda that's clear on their website (www.canaanfairtrade.com).

They promote scholarships at An-Najah University, which has a Hamas-controlled student council that offered an exhibit on a suicide bombing at a Jerusalem pizza chain.

The organization also sponsors an Olive Harvest Tour event that "serves as a connecting point where farmers get the opportunity to meet the individual consumers, companies, and solidarity groups that buy their products". In addition, their Tree for Life project (mentioned on the site) "Helps offset the enormous destruction of olive trees by the Israeli occupation army in Palestine".

By working with such a company, and apparently boycotting equivalent products made in pre-1967 Israel, Whole Foods has taken a clear political stance that is in opposition to the values of a large chunk of its customers.

There's a thriving industry in both the Jewish AND Arab parts of Galilee, for instance, that produces high-quality olive oil, tahini, zaatar, and herbs. Perhaps Whole Foods should investigate whether it can pursue its mission by expanding its selection to include Achva sugar-free halva, or Achla hummus, if it wants to be a company that's truly 365.

It is a private company and they are breaking no laws.If people have a problem with them promoting Ramadan, then those same people should not encourage private industries to promote Christmas, Easter, Passover Or Hannukah. They should also not find fault with that same company or other companies for refusing to do so.

I have no qualm with Muslims preferring halal foods, or with Whole Foods trying to reach out to Muslim customers. But, as far as animal slaughter goes, there is nothing "humane" about the manner in which animals are slaughtered according to halal guidelines. A cut is made at the neck, and the animal bleeds to death. An animal may not know it is dying, but it can experience excruciating pain.

Andrew Zimmer, of Travel Channel's 'Bizarre Foods" did a show in Syria (before the recent outbreak of violence). He witnessed a camel being slaughtered according to halal guidelines, and the scream that the camel let out was shocking. To the shows credit, they did not cut away from the scene, or downplay the screaming.

I do not wish to lecture Muslims on how to practice their faith, but surely a more humane method can be found to kill an animal for its meat.

The problem that many in the Israel advocacy community have with Whole Foods isn't that they carry "Muslim food from Palestine". it's that the Canaan Fair Trade brand they carry, which otherwise is laudable in promoting economic activity in the Palestinian territories, has a political agenda that's clear on their website (www.canaanfairtrade.com).

People should also remember that bases employee discounts on food on the employee's BMI. They penalize their heavier coworkers by ensuring they can buy less food; without taking into account muscle mass.

A little off topic, yes, but I think people of any denomination took take into account how a company treats its employees when they shop.